World Cup 2006: Day 9
Hello Everyone,
As reported earlier, I am now in Limerick City, Ireland. Let me first comment on the events that transpired yesterday, since I missed my regular blog entry, courtesy of Delta Airlines and their shoddy scheduling!
The first game of Day 9 featured Euro 2004 runners-up Portugal against Iran. Iran needed at least a draw to remain alive in the competition and set their stall out to defend from the very beginning. Portugal began sluggishly and hardly threatened the Iranian goalkeeper except for a sharp volley by Deco that was brilliantly tipped over the bar. Iran looked dangerous on the counterattack themselves, and managed to create a few openings for Vahid Hashemian, in particular, though they were unable to score the vital goal. After the break, Portugal upped the tempo and found the back of the net, courtesy of a superb curling effort from playmaker Deco that gave the Iranian keeper no chance! 1-0 Portugal, and Iran was forced to come out of its shell and attack the game now. The match became end-to-end stuff quite literally, and Iranian substitute Khatibi missed two glorious chances to level the game for the Asians. He would come to rue these missed opportunities, as Portugal was awarded a soft penalty kick after Cristiano Ronaldo went down in the box. He recovered to take the penalty and made no mistake from the spot. The second goal knocked the wind out of the gutsy Iranians and they never recovered from the blow. Portugal could have increased their lead late in the game, but 2-0 was a harsh enough scoreline for a game that was rather more tightly contested.
Ghana took on the Czech Republic next, needing some points to show for their efforts. The Africans had played well but still lost to the Italians in the first game. The Czechs were coming off an impressive demolition of USA and were looking to play themselves into the second round. The Ghanians came out firing on all cylinders and took a shock lead 2 minutes into the game when Asamoah Gyan clinically finished off a swift Ghana attack! Down 1-0 the Czechs tried to exert more influence on the game but were unable to overcome a strong Ghana midfield anchored by Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah. The referee again played an important part in this game as the Czechs were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half, and conceded a penalty kick to boot! Petr Cech saved the resultant penalty but Ghana increased their lead shortly after, as they made their man advantage pay. The Czechs tried to cut the deficit in half and went close on several occasions, but never managed to stick the ball in the back of the net. They certainly missed the presence of Jan Koller and Milan Baros up front! 2-0 Ghana it ended, and the shock win for the Africans kept US hopes of making it to the next round alive.
They were up next against Italy, and sadly, I had to be flying from Nashville to Atlanta during the first half! So I missed what turned out to be a scintillating first half display by the previously sluggish Americans. In another game dominated by the man in black, one player each from Italy and Ghana was dismissed in the first half and both teams managed one goal apiece as well. 1-1 at halftime, and this is where I resumed watching live action from a overcrowded bar at the Atlanta airport! Just after the restart, the refereeing farce continued as Eddie Pope (USA) was sent off for a second bookable offence. 10 v 9 now! Incredible, especially for a World Cup game, to see 3 players sent off within 50 minutes of a game! The game itself was immensely entertaining. USA pushed forward in the first part of the second half in search of the crucial second goal, and thought they had it when substitute Beasley put the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for offside. The Italians then realized their man advantage and Alex Del Piero and Vincenzo Iaquinta came desperately close to giving the Azzurri the lead. Only the heroics of USA keeper Kasey Keller kept the Italians at bay and the USA was able to cling on for the draw and 1 absolutely crucial point!
This group is now fascinatingly poised going into the last round of group games. Italy has 4 points, the Czechs and Ghana 3 apiece and USA 1. USA takes on Ghana and Czech Republic plays Italy in the final round, with the Italians only needing a point to secure qualification. The Czechs, regardless of what they do against Italy, need USA to beat Ghana. Otherwise, they would be out! The USA also obviously needs to beat Ghana (and well too) and needs the Czechs to lose to the Italians. Obviously, Italy and Ghana are well-poised at this stage, but anything could still happen in this group, and we will find out for sure on Thursday!
As reported earlier, I am now in Limerick City, Ireland. Let me first comment on the events that transpired yesterday, since I missed my regular blog entry, courtesy of Delta Airlines and their shoddy scheduling!
The first game of Day 9 featured Euro 2004 runners-up Portugal against Iran. Iran needed at least a draw to remain alive in the competition and set their stall out to defend from the very beginning. Portugal began sluggishly and hardly threatened the Iranian goalkeeper except for a sharp volley by Deco that was brilliantly tipped over the bar. Iran looked dangerous on the counterattack themselves, and managed to create a few openings for Vahid Hashemian, in particular, though they were unable to score the vital goal. After the break, Portugal upped the tempo and found the back of the net, courtesy of a superb curling effort from playmaker Deco that gave the Iranian keeper no chance! 1-0 Portugal, and Iran was forced to come out of its shell and attack the game now. The match became end-to-end stuff quite literally, and Iranian substitute Khatibi missed two glorious chances to level the game for the Asians. He would come to rue these missed opportunities, as Portugal was awarded a soft penalty kick after Cristiano Ronaldo went down in the box. He recovered to take the penalty and made no mistake from the spot. The second goal knocked the wind out of the gutsy Iranians and they never recovered from the blow. Portugal could have increased their lead late in the game, but 2-0 was a harsh enough scoreline for a game that was rather more tightly contested.
Ghana took on the Czech Republic next, needing some points to show for their efforts. The Africans had played well but still lost to the Italians in the first game. The Czechs were coming off an impressive demolition of USA and were looking to play themselves into the second round. The Ghanians came out firing on all cylinders and took a shock lead 2 minutes into the game when Asamoah Gyan clinically finished off a swift Ghana attack! Down 1-0 the Czechs tried to exert more influence on the game but were unable to overcome a strong Ghana midfield anchored by Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah. The referee again played an important part in this game as the Czechs were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half, and conceded a penalty kick to boot! Petr Cech saved the resultant penalty but Ghana increased their lead shortly after, as they made their man advantage pay. The Czechs tried to cut the deficit in half and went close on several occasions, but never managed to stick the ball in the back of the net. They certainly missed the presence of Jan Koller and Milan Baros up front! 2-0 Ghana it ended, and the shock win for the Africans kept US hopes of making it to the next round alive.
They were up next against Italy, and sadly, I had to be flying from Nashville to Atlanta during the first half! So I missed what turned out to be a scintillating first half display by the previously sluggish Americans. In another game dominated by the man in black, one player each from Italy and Ghana was dismissed in the first half and both teams managed one goal apiece as well. 1-1 at halftime, and this is where I resumed watching live action from a overcrowded bar at the Atlanta airport! Just after the restart, the refereeing farce continued as Eddie Pope (USA) was sent off for a second bookable offence. 10 v 9 now! Incredible, especially for a World Cup game, to see 3 players sent off within 50 minutes of a game! The game itself was immensely entertaining. USA pushed forward in the first part of the second half in search of the crucial second goal, and thought they had it when substitute Beasley put the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for offside. The Italians then realized their man advantage and Alex Del Piero and Vincenzo Iaquinta came desperately close to giving the Azzurri the lead. Only the heroics of USA keeper Kasey Keller kept the Italians at bay and the USA was able to cling on for the draw and 1 absolutely crucial point!
This group is now fascinatingly poised going into the last round of group games. Italy has 4 points, the Czechs and Ghana 3 apiece and USA 1. USA takes on Ghana and Czech Republic plays Italy in the final round, with the Italians only needing a point to secure qualification. The Czechs, regardless of what they do against Italy, need USA to beat Ghana. Otherwise, they would be out! The USA also obviously needs to beat Ghana (and well too) and needs the Czechs to lose to the Italians. Obviously, Italy and Ghana are well-poised at this stage, but anything could still happen in this group, and we will find out for sure on Thursday!
posted by Manoj at
11:31 AM
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